International

'CIA Director Pompeo Considered to Replace Tillerson'

A U.S. news and information Web site Axios says U.S. President Donald Trump's advisers and allies are floating the idea of replacing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA director Mike Pompeo.

Axios said Friday that Trump is quite comfortable with Pompeo, asking his advice on topics from immigration to the inner workings of Congress.

The report said Pompeo personally delivers the President's Daily Brief, making him one of the few people Trump spends a great deal of time with on a daily basis.

The Internet media outlet quoted unidentified sources as saying that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly wants stability and is discouraging high-level departures before next year.

It quoted insiders as saying Trump's relationship with Tillerson is broken beyond repair. Trump was reportedly furious that Tillerson didn't try to blunt the story about him calling the president a "moron" by just going out and denying it.

Pompeo, a former House representative from Kansas, is known as a hawk in North Korean affairs. He made a secret visit to South Korea in late April.